Instructional Design and Technology: Online
Master's
Why study Instructional Design and Technology?
The Instructional Design and Technology (IDT) offers an online graduate program with a specialization in teaching in blended and online environments. Our program teaches students specific instructional design skill sets, combining facilitation, collaboration, management, learning design, and assessment. Teaching and facilitating courses in blended and online learning environments requires understanding of the nature of learner experiences in those environments, how they differ from traditional classrooms, and how to overcome the challenges and leverage the benefits.
Led by educators with proven success in the field, students will examine current and projected trends, experience authentic online classrooms, and complete hands-on practice with eLearning tools. By completing project-based assignments, students will develop the skills needed to design, manage, and lead their online and blended classrooms.
Admission Requirements
The application materials consist of the following:
- Video Essay. The video essay is optional and should be informal. It is a great way to let the committee know a little bit about you and to personalize your application.
- Statement of the applicant's academic and professional goals. For your goal statement, please answer the following questions and upload it as an attached document in the online application. Your response should be no more than one page in length.
- What are your professional goals? How will the program help you meet these goals?
- Describe your technology skills, e.g., skills in computer-based multimedia, web, or productivity tools, video, etc. You may wish to include a link to a sample technology project to demonstrate your proficiency in the use of technologies.
- Writing sample. Discuss your position on an issue in the field of instructional technology and how you hope to address that issue during your studies. Your essays should be between 750 and 1000 words and have at least three references.
- Resume
- Unofficial transcripts
- At least one letter of recommendation (preferably academic)
Note: The purpose of the recommendation letter(s) is to give the committee an additional data point to assess your academic and professional background. Hence, it is highly recommended to include both an academic and professional recommendation as part of your application. Applicants do not upload the recommendation letters. An email is sent directly to the recommenders from the application system. It is advisable to ask more recommenders than required because applications that do not include the required number of recommendation letters cannot be reviewed by the committee.
- Applicant must hold a bachelors degree from a college or university regarded as standard by a regional or general accrediting agency
- Applicant must have at least a B average (3.0/4.0 system or equivalent) in relevant undergraduate coursework or otherwise give evidence of promise that is judged satisfactory by the admitting program
Application Procedures
Prospective students will complete the online application. After logging in and/or creating a user account, select “Instructional Design and Technology, Online, Master of Education” program by the application deadline posted below. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials and support documents are successfully submitted. Incomplete applications will not be processed or reviewed.
Graduates of this program will be prepared for the careers listed below. All opportunities may not be listed.
The information provided is sourced from a third party, Lightcast. Their product, called Career Coach, combines extensive labor market data from Lightcast and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It provides insights on industry, occupation, compensation, and projected growth for each profession. Economic and workforce information is available for various geographic regions. Some careers may require additional training or education.All incoming Master’s students will be assigned an academic advisor who is a tenure-track faculty member. Students will be mentored by their advisor on their plans of study.
In addition to formal mentorship, students will build community through events such as the annual student showcase, which gives students the opportunity to demonstrate the projects and research that they have completed during the program and network with each other, alumni, professors from outside the IDT program, and others in the community.
Our program is applicable to a wide range of educational environments including public, non-profit, higher education, and corporate training. Professors are leaders in the field, and course materials and activities incorporate the overarching methodology and latest trends in online teaching and learning. Students will experience online learning firsthand and practice the skills needed to succeed in the online teaching and learning in every stage of their coursework.
Scholarships in the form of Graduate Incentive Scholarship Awards (GIA) are available to incoming and returning students based on merit. If awarded, students can use GIA funding to cover part of their tuition. Application forms for GIA support scholarships will be sent to students after they have been officially accepted into a program. GIA funding is an annual award. A new application must be submitted each year.
All transfer credits must adhere to following Graduate School policies and are subject to approval:
The curriculum consists of a minimum of 30 semester credit hours of graduate study, which can be completed over 1 academic year for full-time students or over a longer period of time for students who wish to attend part-time. Classes are offered in a fully online format. Students have the option to apply directly to the online Master’s program or apply to the 15-credit Graduate Certificate in Blended Online Learning and Teaching and then later apply to the Master’s, and transfer those graduate certificate credits into the Master’s program, if admitted. A teaching background is not a prerequisite for the program. This degree does not lead to a teaching license.
The curriculum includes 9 hours of core courses, 3 hours of electives, 15 hours of specialization requirements, and 3 hours of capstone experience. The core courses provide students with the foundation of instructional design, the learning sciences, and basic research skills needed for the field. These core courses emphasize the theoretical basis of Instructional and learning design. The electives are courses that provide the student with interdisciplinary knowledge and experience. Students can also take a professional field experience as an option for an elective. The teaching specialization focuses on facilitating learning in blended and online environments, creating technology-based assessments, gaining strategies for building in accessibility and differentiation, and learning new technology tools. For the capstone experience, students complete a project that builds upon their specialization track.
At the end of the program, the student will be able to:
- Apply learning theories and sound pedagogical practices to the instructional design and development process.
- Apply a systematic process to design instructional strategies that meet identified learning contexts and needs.
- Create authentic, technology-mediated learning experiences.
- Evaluate learning technologies and strategies using a variety of methods.
- Analyze current research and emerging trends in the area of learning technologies.
- Develop strategies to encourage active learning, application, interaction, participation, and collaboration in online and blended environments.
- Facilitate effective learning in online and blended learning environments.
- Demonstrate mastery of contemporary learning technologies.
- Explain the instructional delivery continuum, including associated strengths and affordances.
- Remain cognizant of the diversity of student academic needs and make appropriate accommodations.
- Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards.
Explore unique opportunities, faculty, and resources available in School of Education
Application Deadlines
Applications are reviewed three times a year in December, April, and July for any upcoming semester. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications for Fall in April.
Domestic deadlines:
- Fall - July 15
- Spring - December 1
- Summer - April 15
Note: students with international student visas should apply to the IDT Master’s on-campus program.
Contact Information
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Program Code: 18MAS-IDT-MED-.IDT-DL